Thursday Thirteen

March 20, 2008 on 8:18 am | In My Imagination | 10 Comments

Thirteen reasons I fear going to the dentist. (I had my check up appointment yesterday).

  • As a kid, it seemed that every time I went to the dentist I had a cavity and we all know what’s in store for us if we have a cavity.
  • Great big needles filled with novocaine, need I say more?
  • The sounds at the dentist office:  drills, saws, screams
  • The smells at the dentist office:  cleaning solutions, dental chemicals, novocaine, mouth wash smells
  • Being told I need to floss.  I’m 47 years old, I know I should floss, but I also know that it’s not likely that I will, so don’t waste your breath telling me what to do.
  • Telling me how to brush my teeth.  Again, I’m 47, if I don’t yet know how to brush my teeth, do you think I’m going to change my ways?
  • Having anyone stick their hands in my mouth.
  • Having sharp tools poking around in my mouth and gums.
  • Being asked a question while someone’s hands and sharp tools are in my mouth.
  • Having x-rays done.  I have a bad gag reflex whenever those little sharp edged cards are wedged into my mouth for an x-ray.
  •  Wondering if there is anything in my nose that shouldn’t be there while my head is tilted back and someone has their hands and sharp tools in my mouth, making my nose visible to the world.
  • Having a multiple people put their hands in my mouth.  First the hygienist, then the dentist, then the hygienist again.  Assign one person to me and be done with it!
  • Being made to feel that I don’t know how to take care of my teeth.

    • Because we relocated in April, I had to find a new dentist.  This is never an easy task for me because I really do have a fear of going to the dentist.  I prefer to find a local dentist in a small office who will tend to me personally rather than having to see both the dentist and the hygienist.  Unfortunately, after almost a year of looking, I was unable to find the ideal dentist.  So, I found what I hope is close.  I will have to see the hygienist for cleanings, but I can ask to be scheduled with the same one every six months so I can build some sort of level of trust.

    I had some very bad experiences as a kid and my fear stems from those experiences.

    I had my first appointment yesterday.  The dental assistant did all my x-rays and the dentist did the exam.  He was very gentle and didn’t tell me how to brush or floss which is a definite plus.  I also don’t have any cavities, another HUGE plus.

    I go back Monday morning for my cleaning, hopefully that will go well and I’ll be done for another 6 months.

    Do you like going to the dentist?

    10 Comments

    1. Don’t remind me! I am exactly your age and these same fears have helped me end up with a disaster in my mouth.

      :shivering:

      Rian Fike’s last blog post..Calling in a Favor.

      Comment by Rian Fike — March 20, 2008 #

    2. Rian – I had a pretty bad set of teeth due to my fear also until about 8 years ago when I finally found a dentist who understood what I was going through. He was very patient and helped me get my mouth back into a healthy condition. I want to now keep it that way so I force myself to go to the dentist every six months. It’s definitely not easy though.
      Thanks for stopping by!

      Comment by Lynne — March 20, 2008 #

    3. I could have written this WORD FOR WORD. I give you all of the credit in the world for going to the dentist EVERY 6 months. WOW!!! I can’t do it. I’ve been trying to find a new dentist (I changed insurance, my old wonderful dentist is no longer covered) and I just keep putting it off. I may never go, I am just frightened. I had horrible dental experiences as a child as well. Oh I feel so much better knowing I’m not the only one who feels like this! My husband doesn’t get it – AT ALL.

      Comment by Jennifer — March 20, 2008 #

    4. Jennifer – I HATE looking for a new dentist, it feels me with anxiety. This time, due to our move, I had to find a new dentist. I couldn’t find one that I felt comfortable going to that was under our insurance plan. The one I went to see is “out of network” but the office assured me that typically, I won’t pay any more than I would if they were “in network”. I guess only time will tell.

      Comment by Lynne — March 21, 2008 #

    5. I used to hate going until I had a long course of treatment with weekly appointments, and after that I had no fear at all. In fact I was so relaxed I once fell asleep in the chair and the dentist had to nudge me awake.

      nicholas’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #50

      Comment by nicholas — March 21, 2008 #

    6. Nicholas – Yes, going that frequently might force me to get over my fear too! I have to go in again on Monday for my cleaning, then I’m done for 6 months, I hope!
      Thanks for stopping by!

      Comment by Lynne — March 21, 2008 #

    7. LOL, oh those are all so true. I have not been to a dentist in about 5 or 6 years, and have procrastinated getting my kids there too. I keep meaning to since we have coverage again, but it’s so hard to convince your kids it’s not a bad thing when you don’t want to go yourself!

      Great meme!

      Jolene’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #1

      Comment by Jolene — March 21, 2008 #

    8. Jolene- I’ve had to be very careful about not expressing my fear of dentists when I’m around my daughter. She actually doesn’t mind going to the dentist! Our new dentist even let her watch a movie while she was having her teeth cleaned, she thought that was very cool!
      I actually only started seeing a dentist again when my daughter was about 3. I knew it wasn’t right that she wasn’t seeing a dentist and I had to force myself to do it.
      Use your insurance! Don’t put if off, it can lead to worse problems down the road. Find a dentist that you can relate to and feel somewhat comfortable with and go. After you’ve seen the dentist, then take your kids. :-D

      Comment by Lynne — March 22, 2008 #

    9. I’m the same way Lynne.
      I wonder what the dentists did to us when we were young, It must have been a universal thing tho, for so many to be in the same fear of dentist boat with us.
      I now take a nerve pill before I go, even for a cleaning.
      I think I’m done for awhile, Yay!

      Comment by Grace — March 24, 2008 #

    10. Grace – I think it was all those AF dentists! They just weren’t trained with kids and how to be gentle. Big needles didn’t help either!

      Comment by Lynne — March 24, 2008 #

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